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Chevron’s Richmond Refinery Flares Again, Marking Third Incident in May

Assurances of minimal air-quality impact do little to allay concerns over Chevron’s recurring flaring at its Richmond facility.

A massive fire was seen at Richmond's Chevron refinery on Saturday
Smoke rises from the Chevron petroleum refinery next to a residential neighborhood in Richmond, in March. The refinery flared Saturday for the third time in May. 
_Refinery fire

Overview

  • Saturday’s flare was the third at the refinery this month, following incidents on May 5 and May 22.
  • Chevron said it was working to halt the emissions and did not declare an emergency response.
  • Data from PurpleAir monitors and company sensors showed no significant spike in local pollutant levels.
  • Last year, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District secured a settlement from Chevron and Martinez Refining Co., including multimillion-dollar payments and new emission-reduction rules.
  • Richmond approved a $550 million settlement with Chevron in 2024 to cancel a proposed refinery tax measure.